A deep dive into ‘Riff Raff’: A family crime comedy that misses the mark
Setting the stage: A promising start
Riff Raff, directed by Dito Montiel, clocks in at a brisk 103 minutes but feels much longer. The film boasts an all-star cast that delivers commendable performances, yet the narrative takes its time to unfold, revealing little and confronting even less. As the secrets of the past catch up with a father and son, threatening to derail their idyllic lives, the film’s themes of love and family remain underdeveloped, hovering in the background without ever being fully realized.
A fleeting prologue
The movie opens with a brief, one-shot prologue where a meek teenager, DJ (Miles J. Harvey), holds an older, bloodied man, Vincent (Ed Harris), at gunpoint. DJ’s personable voiceover then takes us back a few days, revealing that they are stepson and stepfather. Initially, they get along well, especially during shooting practice at their rural holiday home. This setup makes one wonder what leads to the climactic moment, but the film only provides tiny hints along the way.
Family dynamics disrupted
DJ and Vincent share a frank relationship, often discussing private matters of romance, much to the disapproval of DJ’s mother and Vincent’s second wife, Sandy (Gabrielle Union). However, this dynamic is interrupted by the sudden, late-night arrival of Vincent’s estranged son, Rocco (Lewis Pullman), his pregnant Italian girlfriend, Marina (Emanuela Postacchini), and his passed-out mother, Ruth (Jennifer Coolidge), Vincent’s foul-mouthed ex. They claim to be there to celebrate the New Year, but Vincent suspects that Rocco is in trouble.
The looming threat
Elsewhere, an older mafioso, Leftie (Bill Murray), and his young associate, Lonnie (Pete Davidson), embark on a road trip in search of a target. Presumably, their target is at the winter getaway, but the information is revealed slowly and infrequently. Meanwhile, the two halves of Vincent’s family life collide, resulting in initially amusing interactions that stem from broad caricatures buoyed by insecurity.
Character dynamics and performances
Lewis Pullman departs from his timid role in Top Gun: Maverick to play a leather jacket-wearing “bad boy” with a temper and daddy issues, making him a treat to watch. Newcomer Miles J. Harvey is equally intriguing as a small boy with a big heart and big dreams, on the verge of leaving for college. He is also dealing with romantic heartbreak in overly logistical ways, given his scientific inclinations. It seems he could use the advice of an older brother, just as Rocco could use someone to guide him in preparation for fatherhood. However, lingering tensions get the better of Rocco, leading him to lash out at DJ for his excessive enthusiasm.
Missed opportunities
Unfortunately, this is as interesting as the movie’s dynamics get. Once a character is introduced, their persona and identity become crystal clear, a testament to the cast’s ability to tap into writer John Pollono’s text. However, there’s usually nowhere left for them to go. Jennifer Coolidge’s Ruth is a one-note joke, a messy “type” that she plays with energy and aplomb, but there’s nothing more to her character. Emanuela Postacchini’s Marina offers a few life and love lessons to DJ, but these don’t come in handy at any point in the story. Gabrielle Union’s Sandy exists only as a “straight man” foil to the more chaotic characters, with little ethos of her own. Ed Harris’ Vincent commands attention with his verbosity, but his character only appears layered. These layers are supposedly unveiled as we learn more about his past and the two men headed his family’s way, but these details only set up potential drama that Montiel never capitalizes on.
A long, drawn-out approach
Despite establishing potentially fun and explosive dynamics, Riff Raff takes a long, drawn-out approach to its story, with numerous detours that seldom amount to anything. Michael Covino is perhaps the movie’s most alluring presence as a vicious, violent character who ties the movie’s various threads together. Ironically, he only exists in flashbacks, a phantom of meaning and conflict, while the movie struggles to engineer the same in the present. The disparate plots threaten to collide, but the payoff arrives far too late, and the movie’s energy plateaus, never recovering.
Final thoughts
Riff Raff had the potential to be a compelling family crime comedy, but it falls short due to its underdeveloped themes and drawn-out narrative. The film’s all-star cast delivers commendable performances, but the characters are one-dimensional, and the story lacks the necessary tension and drama to keep the audience engaged. While the movie sets up interesting dynamics and potential conflicts, it fails to capitalize on them, resulting in a film that feels much longer than its 103-minute runtime.
For those interested in exploring the film further, you can watch the trailer for Riff Raff here.